Peter Okoye, the Nigerian singer known as Mr P and formerly part of P-Square, has opened up and shared how Michael Jackson inspired his music career.
Peter, during a recent interview with Nile Entertainment about an upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, said his admiration for Jackson started when he was very young.
Peter recalled going to a cousin’s birthday party where he first heard Jackson’s music. He danced with excitement, hoping for more food, but it was Jackson’s energy and talent that really won him over.
Peter also mentioned that he and his twin brother Paul were working on their song ‘E No Easy’ when Michael Jackson died in 2009.
To honour the legend, they incorporated his signature looks into the music video.
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“I like everything about him,” Peter said. “I still have little pictures of myself at 13, 14, 15 years old performing as Michael Jackson.”
“Before ‘E No Easy’, I had always looked for someone who would showcase Michael. When we finished the album, that was when we lost him.”
Peter also spoke about how Jackson’s family reached out to acknowledge their tribute.
“Michael Jackson’s family contacted me to say I’m doing the right thing,” he said.
The singer reflected on what set Jackson apart.
“He left a good stamp,” Peter remarked. “He is king of everything king of the stage and king of music. That guy’s legacy lives forever. I guarantee you, forever.”
He emphasised that he cannot talk about his own career without mentioning Jackson.
“Whether we like it or not, even if I wanted to deny it, it’s there,” he said.
He also admitted to incorporating Jackson’s iconic dance moves into his performances.
“I can do the back slide, I can do the circle, and I can still do the front. I have done the lean before to showcase Michael Jackson,” he said.